Inflation work station

ABSTRACT

An inflation work station for inflating a tire-wheel assembly including a tire mounted to a wheel is disclosed. The inflation work station includes a working device having an end effecter. The end effecter includes a wheel-engaging plunger member, a retaining apparatus connected to the wheel-engaging plunger member, and an inflation apparatus connected to the wheel-engaging plunger member. The retaining apparatus includes at least one tire-engaging portion extending from a retaining apparatus base member. The inflation apparatus includes at least one inflation probe extending from an inflation apparatus base member. A method for operating an inflation work station is also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATIONS

This disclosure is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/335,063 filed on Jan. 18, 2006, which is related to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/644,857 filed on Jan. 18, 2005.The disclosures of these prior applications are considered part of thedisclosure of this application and are hereby incorporated by referencein their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure generally relates to transportation and manipulationsystems and more particularly relates to systems for transporting andmanipulating tires and wheels.

BACKGROUND

It is known in the art that a tire-wheel assembly is processed inseveral steps. Usually, conventional methodologies that conduct suchsteps require a significant capital investment and human oversight. Thepresent disclosure provides several exemplary implementations thatovercome drawbacks associated with the prior art by setting forthseveral devices that may be utilized for processing a tire-wheelassembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary plant layout utilizing aplurality of work stations and a plurality of wheeled carts to transporttires, wheels, and tire/wheel assemblies between work stations.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary wheeled cart adapted to traverse the circuit ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is another exemplary wheeled cart adapted to traverse the circuitof FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a wheel gripping mechanism adapted forattachment to one or more implementations of a wheeled cart.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of an exemplary wheeled cart, whereinthe wheeled cart is shown proximate an exemplary tire mounting workstation located along the circuit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an exemplary wheeled cart havingtelescoping support legs.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional view of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 depicts a first operational stage of locating the wheeled cart ofFIGS. 7 and 8 at a work station.

FIG. 10 depicts a second operational stage of loading a work surface ofa wheeled cart.

FIGS. 11-13 depict a second system for loading a work surface of awheeled cart.

FIGS. 14-16 depict a third system for loading a work surface of awheeled cart.

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of an exemplary wheeled cartstationed at an exemplary tire/wheel mounting work station.

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a top view of an exemplary radially adjustable working headused on the work station of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is an exemplary work station fitted with a cam-operated workinghead.

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22A is a front elevational view of an exemplary tire inflationapparatus.

FIG. 22B is a side elevational view taken along lines 22B-22B of FIG.22A.

FIG. 23 is a partial cross sectional view of an exemplary tire beadseater.

FIG. 24 is a partial cross sectional view of another exemplary tire beadseater.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of an exemplary inflation work station.

FIGS. 26A-26G illustrate a series of cross-sectional view of theinflation work station according to line 26-26 of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a partial cross-sectional view according to arrow 27 of FIG.26D.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged cross-sectional view according to line 28 of FIG.26D.

FIG. 29 is an exemplary enlarged partial cross-sectional view accordingline 29 of FIG. 27.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged view according to line 30 of FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is an enlarged cross-sectional view according to line 31 of FIG.28 and line 31-31 of FIG. 29.

FIG. 32 is an alternative, enlarged partial cross-sectional viewreferenced from line 32 of FIG. 27.

FIG. 33 is an enlarged view according to line 33 of FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is an enlarged cross-sectional view according to line 34-34 ofFIG. 32.

FIG. 35 is another exemplary enlarged partial cross-sectional viewaccording line 32 of FIG. 27.

FIG. 36 is an enlarged view according to line 36 of FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is an enlarged cross-sectional view according to line 37-37 ofFIG. 35.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of an exemplary distal end portion of aninflation probe.

FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end portion according toline 39-39 of FIG. 38.

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of an exemplary distal end portion of aninflation probe.

FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end portion according toline 41-41 of FIG. 40.

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of an exemplary distal end portion of aninflation probe.

FIG. 43A is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the distal end portionaccording to line 43-43 of FIG. 42.

FIG. 43B is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the distal end portionaccording to line 43-43 of FIG. 42.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of an exemplary distal end portion of aninflation probe.

FIG. 45A is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the distal end portionaccording to line 45-45 of FIG. 44.

FIG. 45B is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the distal end portionaccording to line 45-45 of FIG. 44.

FIG. 46 is a perspective view of an exemplary distal end portion of aninflation probe.

FIG. 47A is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the distal end portionaccording to line 47-47 of FIG. 46.

FIG. 47B is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the distal end portionaccording to line 47-47 of FIG. 46.

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of an exemplary distal end portion of aninflation probe.

FIG. 49A is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the distal end portionaccording to line 49-49 of FIG. 48.

FIG. 49B is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the distal end portionaccording to line 49-49 of FIG. 48.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Figures illustrate exemplary inflation work station. Based on theforegoing, it is to be generally understood that the nomenclature usedherein is simply for convenience and the terms used to describe theimplementations should be given the broadest meaning by one of ordinaryskill in the art.

Plant Layout

The plant layout 30 of the present disclosure includes one or moredelivery areas 34 adapted to accept the inflow of vehicles carryingwheels, tires, tire pressure valves, tire pressure sensors, and anyother components or subcomponents that are adapted to be integrated intoa completed tire/wheel assembly. Delivery areas 34 can be adapted toreceive trucks, railroad cars or any other delivery means commonly usedfor the delivery of components used in a tire/wheel assembly. Thecomponents are unloaded from the vehicles docked in the delivery areasand they may be transported therefrom to one or more staging areas 36.Staging areas 36 can be used for component inspection, testing, orpre-assembly. Once the components are ready for assembly, they aretransported by way of a transport means 38 to a first work station 39.Transport means 38 can be a conveyor system, a wheeled cart or anymechanism used to transport components. First work station 39 operatesin a first manner upon the tire/wheel assembly. The particulars of thisfirst operation may include any number of operations (such as mountingan air inflation valve to a wheel and applying soap to select surfacesof the tire, the wheel, or both, or the like). Work station 39 mayrepresent a manual operation, a fully automatic operation, or a hybridmanual-automatic operation. After the task performed at first workstation 40 is complete, wheeled cart 42 manipulates its way alongcircuit 44 by way of track 46. Track 46 is designed to define one ormore paths of travel available to wheeled cart 42 and can be comprisedof traditional track materials (such as rails and the like) or, it maybe comprised of any means that wheeled cart 42 can use to guide itsmovement as it traverses circuit 44.

Alternatives to installing traditional track materials include a paintedline or the like disposed on a floor surface 35 of plant 37. Thispainted line can be detected using an optical track sensing devicelocated on wheeled cart 42 to guide the traversal path of wheeled cart42 as it traverses circuit 44. Other track following devices (e.g.proximity devices) may be used such as pressure sensitive sensors usedto follow a floor depression or a floor protuberance. It is alsocontemplated that various conduits, electrical conductors or other meanscan be laid beneath the surface of the plant floor 35 such that radiofrequency, ultrasonic or other sensing means can be used to sense thelocation of the “buried” tracks. Track 46 can be positioned above orbelow wheeled cart 42. It is also contemplated that wheeled cart 42 caninclude a receiver (e.g. a radio) and servo controller, wherein thereceiver is capable of receiving GPS coordinate information. Under thisdesign, cart 42 could use the GPS coordinate information for traversingone or more paths of circuit 44 defined within a preprogrammed storagemeans. Preprogrammed storage means can be implemented on cart 42, or canbe implemented on a remote central controller (not shown) wherein thecoordinate information could be transmitted from the remote controllerto cart 42.

Predefined zones 45 along circuit 44 can split into parallel tracksegments 22, 48. Parallel track segments 22 can include cross-oversegments 24. Cross-over segments 24 positioned between parallel tracksegments 22 allow a cart that is located on one of the parallel tracksegments 22 to cross-over to a neighboring parallel track. Thiscross-over function can be useful if a cart 42 is taken off-line forservicing or is otherwise rendered unoperational. Circuit 44 can bedesigned to include two or more parallel cart tracks 22, 48, at selectlocations along circuit 44, where various work stations are located. Forexample, tire mounter work stations 50, 50′ and tire inflator workstations 52, 52′ are located along parallel tracks 22. Also, tirepressure monitor checker work stations 54, 54′ and bead seater workstation 56, 56′ are located in parallel cart tracks 48. Pick and placework stations 58, 58′ can be used to remove tire/wheel assemblies fromthe carts traversing circuit 44 and to transfer the tire/wheelassemblies to off-circuit work stations (such as balancer/balance auditwork station 60). From work station 60, the tire/wheel assemblies aretransferred to silo 62 where they are categorized, stacked, andotherwise made ready for shipment by way of carriers 64. If anytire/wheel assemblies do not meet audit standards, they are transitionedby way of a wheeled cart 42 to a repair work station 40 where repair isattempted.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a wheeled cart 42, 66that includes a plurality of wheels 68 adapted to engage a load bearingsurface 70 (such as a plant floor 35 or the like). Wheeled cart 42, 66can include one or more motors 69 which are controlled by one or morecontrollers 71. One or more controllers 71 can be powered by one or moreelectric batteries 73. In an alternative implementation, electric powerfor powering the various electric devices 69, 71 on wheeled cart 66 canbe delivered via electrical conductors placed along load bearing surface70 wherein wheeled cart 66 can be fashioned with contact elements (suchas brushes or the like) effective for transferring electrical currentfrom the conductive members in load bearing surface 70 to the electricalcomponents 69, 71 on wheeled cart 42, 66. Various implementations oftrack reader 75 have already been discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1and track reader 75 includes any means of determining the position ofwheeled cart 42, 66 with respect to one or more prescribed paths 46, 77along load bearing surface 70. The prescribed path can be defined bytrack materials or other physical mediums 46, 77 (already described)associated with floor 35, or the prescribed path may be coordinate dataassociated with the plant floor (that is never embodied in the plantfloor—e.g. GPS coordinates).

One or more controllers 71 are effective for interfacing with wheelmotors 67, 67′, battery 73, and track reader 75 for manipulating thedirection, speed and other devices that may be located on wheeled cart42, 66. Controller 71 can be preprogrammed to operate autonomouslywithout the intervention of a central controller (central controller notshown) or, in the alternative, wheeled cart 42, 66 can be designed sothat it executes the commands transmitted to it by way of a centralcontroller. Commands may be transmitted to wheeled cart 42, 66 from acentral controller by way of radio signals, track member 77, or othermeans (e g infrared signals, copper cables, and the like).

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an exemplary wheeled cart 42, 66 that can be asingle unit implementation (see FIG. 2) or a double unit implementation(see FIG. 3). Single unit implementations are typically capable ofcarrying one tire/wheel assembly while dual unit carts are capable ofcarrying a pair of tire/wheel assemblies (see FIG. 3). Also, wheeledcart 42, 66 can be fashioned with one or more sensing bumpers 78 whichcommunicate with controller 71. Whenever contact is made against sensingbumper 78, controller 71 can respond in any number of ways (such asimmediately ceasing movement of wheeled cart 42, 66 in order to avoidpossible equipment damage). Wheeled carts 42, 66 can be designed tocarry any number of working apparatus' 73. For example, the exemplaryworking apparatus 73 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes a radiallyadjustable wheel gripping mechanism for gripping an inner diameterportion 78 of a wheel 80.

Now referring to FIGS. 2-4, wheel gripping mechanism 73 includes base 82which is attached to wheeled cart 42, 66. Base 82 supports, at a firstpivot joint 83, one or more hinged arms 84. Hinged arms 84 terminate ata second pivot joint 93, that pivotally supports a wheel gripping member92. Intermediate arm 86 includes a first end 94 and a second end 96.First end 94 of intermediate arm 86 is pivotally connected to hinged arm84 and the second end 96 of intermediate arm 86 is pivotally connectedto threaded nut 88. Threaded nut 88 is threadedly connected to threadeddrive shaft 90. Threaded drive shaft 90 can be rotated from either motor69 (mounted to wheeled cart 42, 66) or via an external motor 71 whichcan be selectively engaged to a top portion 93 of threaded drive shaft90 when wheeled cart 42, 66 is located in proximity to one or more workstations. When either motor 69 or 71 is rotated, threaded nut 88traverses threaded drive shaft 90 along path 94. Traversal path 94 issubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 91 of threaded driveshaft 90. When threaded nut 88 traverses path 94, linkage 84, 86 causeswheel gripping members 92 to traverse along path 96. Path 96 issubstantially perpendicular to path 94. When working apparatus 73 isplaced within an inner diameter 78 of a wheel 80 (see FIG. 3), and motor69, 71, is rotated 72, wheel gripping members 92 can be made to moveoutwardly along path 96 until they outwardly urge against the innerdiameter 78 of wheel 80. Inner diameter 78 can be defined as a surfaceof the wheel 80 that is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation91. This outward urging is effective for maintaining the vehicle wheelin a fixed position with respect to wheeled cart 42, 66. It can also beeasily understood that working apparatus 73 is effective for grippingany number of different wheel diameters by virtue of the expanded orcontracted positions wheel gripping members 92 can be made to assume (byvirtue of manipulating either motor 69 or 71). The right-most workingapparatus in FIG. 3 shows (in phantom) a wheel 80′ (having a first wheeldiameter) supported by wheel gripping mechanism 73 (in phantom) in afirst position and also shows wheel 80 (having a second wheel diameter)supported by wheel gripping mechanism 73 in a second position. Thus, theworking apparatus 73 of FIGS. 2-4 is effective for gripping and securinga tire/wheel assembly to wheeled cart 42, 66 as wheeled cart travelsfrom work station to work station.

Now referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, wheeled cart 42, 66 is shown inproximity to tire mounting work station 50. Tire mounting work station50 includes a working head 100 which is vertically manipulatable 102 byway of drive 104. Working head 100 can carry any number of workingapparatus designed to do work upon tire and wheel assembly. FIGS. 5 and6 illustrate an exemplary working apparatus that includes a motor 71 forrotating the wheel 108 at the appropriate time. Other tire installationtools can be attached to working head 100 such as guide foot 110 whichis used in a per se known manner to guide tire 106 onto wheel 108 aswheel is rotated by motor 69 or 71. Guide foot 110 maybe horizontallymanipulatable along axis 114 by way of actuator 112. By enabling guidefoot 110 to be manipulatable along axis 114, guide foot 110 can beadjusted to accommodate wheel sizes of different diameters. Although theimplementation of FIGS. 5 and 6 shows motor 71 coupled to the topportion 93 of threaded drive shaft 90 (see FIG. 4), the rotation ofworking apparatus 73 may also be powered by one or more motors 69located within wheeled cart 42, 66. An implementation of the wheeledcart 42, 66 depicted in FIG. 6 may carry two tire/wheel assemblies. FIG.5 shows a tire/wheel pair positioned ready to be joined (i.e. mounted)to one another, and the left-most tire/wheel pair shown in FIG. 6 showsa tire/wheel pair after tire mounting work station 50 has mounted tire106 to wheel 108.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a work station havinga tire inflation work station 52, 52′ includes a right segment 116 oftire inflation work station 52, 52′ and a left segment 118 of tireinflation work station 52, 52′. Right and left segments 116, 118 arespaced apart 120 to create a space therebetween sufficient to acceptwheeled cart 66. The work stations can carry any number of workingdevices 122 and, for example, the work station of FIG. 7 carries a tireinflation apparatus 124. In addition to carrying tire inflationapparatus 124, working device 122 can also include a motor 126 and acontroller 128 for manipulating and controlling the tire inflationapparatus 124 during operation. Wheeled cart 66 can be powered bybattery 73 which is controlled by controller 71. Controller 71 caninterface with one or more wheel drive motors 130, 132 to propel wheeledcart 66 along track 77.

Now referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, wheeled cart 66 can be constructed withone or more vertical supports 138, 140 which extend between cart base134 and cart work surface 136. Vertical supports 138, 140 may becollapsible so that when a load 142 of sufficient magnitude is placedupon cart work surface 136, vertical supports 138 and 140 collapse (i.e.compress).

Right and left segments 116, 118 include respectively associated loadbearing surfaces 144, 146. Each load bearing surface, 144, 146 includesa respectively associated engagement member 148, 150 which is adapted toengage a respectively associated mating engagement member 152, 154associated with cart work surface 136. Although engagement members 148,150 are shown as male projections and engagement members 152, 154 areshown as female depressions located within cart work surface 136, andany number of different geometries may be used to positively locate cartwork surface 136 against load bearing surfaces 144, 146 when cart worksurface 136 is depressed by load 142. In some implementations, verticalsupport members 138, 140 may include two or more tubular telescopingmembers 156, 158 that are sized appropriately such that one of themembers 158 is telescopically received within an adjacent member 156.Telescoping members 156, 158 can include a hollow central passageway 160wherein an urging device 162 can reside. Urging device 162 can include amechanical coil spring, compressed gas cylinder, or any other meanseffective for expanding telescopic members 156, 158 once load 142 isremoved. In an implementation, telescoping members 156, 158 may comprisethe outer housing of a gas cylinder and passageway 160 may be chargedwith a compressed gas.

The operation of a work station (exemplified by 52, 52′) in conjunctionwith wheeled cart 42, 66 will now be explained in conjunction with FIGS.9 and 10.

Once wheeled cart 42, 66 is properly positioned within opening 120 ofwork station 52, 52′, working device 122 can be engaged to do its workupon work piece 164. In the example of FIGS. 9 and 10, work station 52,52′ is a tire inflation work station and work piece 164 is a tire whichhas been mounted to a wheel but has not yet been inflated.

In order for work station 52, 52′ to inflate tire 164, working device122 may be manipulated by controller 128 to lower inflation head 166into operative engagement with work piece 164. This lowering operation168 is accomplished by motor 126 and its associated drive mechanism 170.

Now referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the strength of spring means 162 isdesigned such that it is sufficient to support work piece 164 in anextended position such that cart work surface 136 easily clears (i.e. iselevated above) load bearing surfaces 144, 146. However, urging device162 is sized so that when the downward thrust 172 of working device 122is exerted upon work piece 164, urging device 162 is not sufficientlystrong to resist the downward thrust 172 thereby resulting in thecompression of telescoping members 156, 158. This compression of members156, 158 causes cart work surface 136 to move downwardly until cart worksurface 136 engages load bearing surfaces 144, 146. At that point, cartwork surface 136 ceases any further downward movement because anyfurther load exerted by working devices 122 is absorbed by load bearingsurface 144, 146 and not by members 156, 158. The proper alignment ofpaired engaging means 148, 152 and 150, 154 ensures that there will beno lateral shift of cart work surface 136 during the course in whichworking device 122 performs work upon work piece 164. It is important tonote that if mating pairs of engagement means are cone shaped (see 144,152) they promote/guide self alignment as surface 136 drops.Accordingly, cart 42, 66 does not have to be precisely aligned withinspace 120. It merely may be within a zone that is defined by thegeometry of paired engaging means 148, 152 and 150, 154. In view of theabove referenced description, it is easily understood that wheeled cart66 can be constructed from much lighter materials than would beotherwise possible if the structure of cart 42, 66 were responsible forbearing all of the working load exerted by working device 122 on workpiece 164.

FIGS. 11-13 illustrate an exemplary implementation of a wheeled cart ofthe present disclosure. Now referring to FIGS. 11-13, wheeled cart 42,66 is constructed with rigid (i.e. non-collapsible, non-extendable)legs. Work station 52, 52′ includes one or more sliding wedges 176, 178which are vertically manipulatable along a respectively associatedportion of load bearing surface 144, 146. Sliding wedges 176, 178 can beactivated using any number of known actuator mechanisms 180, 182 such ashydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, electric motors and the like.Mechanisms 180, 182 are effective for vertically sliding 184, 186 theirrespectively associated sliding wedges 176, 178 under a bottom portion188, 190 of cart work surface 136.

Now referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, when mechanisms 180, 182 are activatedby controller 128 to extend their respectively associated wedges 176,178 under a bottom surface 188, 190 of cart work surface 136, theinclude face 192, 194 of each wedge 176, 178 forms a lifting ramp andmoves cart work surface 136 upwardly 196. Because legs 174 are rigid(non-collapsible or non-extendable), the entire wheeled cart assembly42, 66 is elevated 198 from the load bearing surface 70 as is shown inFIG. 12. Once wheeled cart 66 is elevated from load bearing surface 70,inflation head 166 can be lowered 172 and can be used to operate uponwork piece 164 (see FIG. 13). In doing so, none of the downward thrustexerted by working device 122 is born by the wheels 68 or the legs 174of wheeled cart 42, 66 inasmuch as all of the downward thrust exerted byworking device 122 is born by load bearing surfaces 144, 146 by way ofsliding wedges 176, 178. Each sliding wedge 176, 178 can include arespectively associated engagement means 148, 150. Also, cart worksurface 136 can be fashioned with one or more complimentary (i.e.mating) engaging means 152, 154 which are respectively associated withengaging means 148, 150. Engaging means pair 148, 152 and 150, 154 areadapted to engage one another while wheeled cart 42, 66 is lifted 198from load bearing surface 70 in order to prevent the lateral movement ofcart work surface 136 throughout a period of time in which workingdevice 122 operates on work piece 164.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a wheeled cart 42, 66that is fashioned with telescoping vertical supports 138, 140.Telescoping vertical supports 138, 140 have already been described inconjunction with the cart shown in FIGS. 7-10. Cart 42, 66 includesrigid, vertical post 200 which is firmly secured to cart work surface136. Vertical post 200 may extend through the hollow center portion ofwork piece 164, or, in some implementations, vertical post 200 mayextend from cart work surface 136 along an outer edge region of cartwork surface 136. Vertical post 200 can be fashioned with a notch 204and working device 122 may include a notch engaging mechanism 206. Whenworking device 122 is activated, inflation head 166, is lowered 172against work piece 164. Notch engaging mechanism 206 is controlled bycontroller 128, and it is adapted to engage notch 204 thereby securelyjoining working device 122 with vertical post 220 (see FIG. 15). Next,working device 122 is activated such that it lifts 173 vertical post 200upwardly (see FIG. 16). Because vertical post 200 is rigid and firmlyattached to cart work surface 136, cart work surface 136 also liftsupwardly. Telescopic legs 138, 140 permit the upward movement of cartwork surface 136 while allowing the wheels 68 of wheeled cart 66 toremain engaged against load bearing surface 70. It is easily seen thatby utilizing the rigid, vertical post 200 in conjunction with thelifting mechanism in working device 122, that any downward thrustexerted by working device 122 upon work piece 164 is absorbed byvertical post 200 and is not born by the telescoping leg portions 138,140 or the wheels 68 of wheeled cart 66.

Now referring to FIG. 17, wheeled cart can be positioned at tire/wheelmounting work station 50, 50′. Work station 50, 50′ includes workingdevice 122 which, in the present example, is a tire/wheel mountingworking device. Working device 122 may have a motor 257 for rotatingworking arm assembly 250 (working arm assembly is shown in greaterdetail in FIG. 19). In some implementations, assembly 250 may berotationally fixed and the wheel 226 may instead by rotated. Motor 257is coupled to drive mechanism 258. Drive mechanism 258 is effective forcoupling the rotational movement of motor 257 to shaft 261. Drivemechanism 258 may include a worm gear drive, a spur gear drive or thelike. Both motor 257 and drive mechanism 258 are preferably coupled to acommon platform 263 which in turn, is coupled to vertical drive motor262. Vertical drive motor 262 is effective for vertically manipulating251 the vertical position of shaft 261, drive mechanism 258, motor 257and platform 255. In applications where it is desirable, platform 255,motor 257, drive mechanism 258, and shaft 261 may be horizontallymanipulated 259 by implementing any known linear drive technique.

Now referring to FIGS. 17-19, shaft 261 is coupled to working armassembly 250. Working arm assembly 250 is fixed to and rotates 253 withshaft 261. Working arm assembly 250 includes at least one arm that isextendable by way of an extension cylinder 252. Extension cylinder 252when it is in a minimum extended state is effective for extending aworking end (e.g. roller member 269) to a first radial position 263.When extension cylinder 252 is extended to a maximum state, it iseffective for positioning roller member 269 in a second radial position265. Other radial positions intermediate first radial position 263 andsecond radial position 265 may be accomplished by activating extensioncylinder 252 to a position intermediate the minimum and maximum states.The presence of extension cylinder 252 in conjunction with the otherpivoting members which make up working arm assembly 250 allow wheelmember 269 to be adjusted to any number of radial positions 255. Thisadjustability allows the roller member 269 to accommodate a plurality ofwheel sizes simply by adjusting the extension or contraction state ofextension cylinder 252. This adjustability of wheel member 269 tocircumscribe any number of wheel diameters is important in tire/wheelmounting applications wherein wheel member 269 is the primary workingmember to effect the mounting of the tire to the wheel. Such mountingtechniques are known in the art.

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a tire inflation workstation having a working device 122 that includes a first inflation head300 that is adapted to inflate tire/wheel assemblies of a firstdiameter. First inflation head 300 is telescopically nested withinsecond inflation head 302 which is adapted to inflate tire/wheelassemblies of a second diameter. Heads 300, 302 can be carried by acommon platform which is vertically displaceable. At least one of theinflation heads 300, 302 is adapted to be vertically manipulated 306with respect to the other inflation head. This manipulation can becarried out by way of one or more cam lift mechanisms 340, 342 that arepositionable between a first latch position 344 and a second latchposition 346. When cam mechanism 340 is manipulated into the first latchposition 344, first inflation head 300 is positioned in the extendedposition thereby enabling it to be placed in operational engagement withthe tire/wheel assembly and allowing head 300 to be used to inflate thetire/wheel assembly. When cam mechanism is in the second latch position346, first inflation head 300 is manipulated upwardly (i.e. in aretracted position) thereby exposing second inflation head 302 to extendbeyond head 300. This places head 302 in a position to operativelyengage the tire/wheel assembly to be inflated. The manipulation of cammembers 340, 342 can be actuated manually or it can be done by way ofautomated means (such as by pneumatic, electric or hydraulic motors).Automated means as well as cam linkages in general are well known tothose skilled in the art.

Now referring to FIGS. 22A and 22B, an exemplary system for inflating atire/wheel assembly includes an inflation probe 400 which can beattached to a working device 122 (not shown) of a work station (notshown). Inflation probe 400 can have a generally tubular body with anair passage conduit 402 formed within the body of the inflation probe400. Inflation probe 400 can terminate into a head portion 404 that isformed to have an outer contour that generally matches the tire contourwhen the tire is depressed by the head portion 404 of inflation probe400. The contour of head portion 404 may be specifically designed andcontoured for a given tire design inasmuch as tire wall thicknesses andtire materials may differ in rigidity and stiffness. Head portion 404 isfitted with an internal secondary conduit 406. Secondary conduit 406 isconnected to conduit 402 and is effective for delivering air into theinner portion 408 of tire/wheel assembly 419. The inflation probe 400may include one or advantages over traditional ring style inflators.Firstly, traditional inflators may use a ring to introduce air 360degrees around a gap 416 formed between the wheel 412 and the tire 410.During inflation, the tire 410 generates large upward forces against thering. In order to resist these upward forces generated during inflation,the work station may be constructed from extremely heavy materials.Secondly, control timing of ring inflators may result in the generationof loud noises arising from a rush of escaping air if the ring isremoved prematurely.

Using the inflation probe 400 simplifies the inflation process inasmuchas it is placed between the wheel 412 and the tire 410 proximate thewheel bead seat 414 and air is passed through conduits 402, 406. As airpasses into chamber 408, the tire 410 begins to inflate and seal againstthe bead seat 414 of the wheel 412. Once sufficient air has passed intoarea 408, inflation probe 400 may be withdrawn from its position betweenthe tire bead and the wheel bead seat 414 and the pressure withinchamber 408 will properly seat any remaining portion of the bead of thetire 410 against the wheel bead seat 414 of the wheel 412.

FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a bead seaterapparatus that includes an upper wheel clamp 510 and a lower wheel clamp512. At least one of upper wheel clamp 510 or lower wheel clamp 512 ismovable in parallel 517, 517′ with the axis of rotation 515 of wheel andtire assembly 509. By being able to manipulate at least one of the upperwheel clamp or lower wheel clamp 510, 512 in parallel with axis ofrotation 515, wheel clamp assembly 510, 512 is capable of opening a gaptherebetween to accept a hub portion of a wheel 518 and (once the hubportion 518 is in proper location), closing upon hub portion 518 suchthat wheel clamps 510, 512 sandwich hub portion 518 of wheel 519therebetween positively gripping assembly 509. Movement 517, 517′ ofclamps 510, 512 can be accomplished by way of overhead cylinder 520. Inan some implementations (not shown), cylinder 520 can be placed belowassembly 509. Cylinder 520 can accomplish its clamping stroke by way ofany number of technologies well known to those skilled in the artincluding, electric, pneumatic, hydraulic actuators, or the like.Cylinder 520 can be attached to a working device 122 and be made part ofa work station as has been discussed herein. Clamp 512 can be made partof a wheeled cart 42, 66 as disclosed herein.

Once clamps 510, 512 have been manipulated to sandwich hub 518therebetween, the sidewalls 524, 526 of tire 522 are brought intocontact with deforming rollers 528, 530. The function of deformingrollers 528, 530 is to temporarily deflect the sidewall of tire 522inwardly (towards the air filled core of the tire) enough to deflect thebead portion of the tire away from the bead seating portion of wheel519. In some implementations, the deforming rollers 528, 530 may engagethe sidewall of tire 522 as close as possible to the interface portionbetween the tire sidewall and the bead seat portion of the wheel. It isadvantageous for deforming rollers 528, 530 to deflect the bead seatingportion of the tire in this vicinity because it is believed that by“flexing” the tire in this vicinity, it disturbs the equilibriumestablished between the tire bead and the wheel bead seat and thisdisturbance will cause an improperly seated tire to properly seat. Itwill also encourage the evacuation of any air bubbles that may betrapped between the tire bead and the wheel bead seat. Although FIG. 23is shown with two deforming rollers 528, 530, it is contemplated thatthe present disclosure may employ, one, two or more than two deformingrollers. For example, it is contemplated that upper deforming roller 528may have a counter part upper deforming roller spaced 180 degrees fromit (180 degrees with respect to rotational axis 515) and, likewise, itis contemplated that lower deforming roller 530 might have a counterpartroller spaced 180 degrees from it (180 degrees relative to rotationalaxis 515).

Once deforming rollers 528, 530 are engaged against the sidewalls oftire 522, tire 522 is rotated about its axis of rotation 515. Thisrotational motion can be imparted to tire 522 in any number of waysincluding rotating roller 532 which is connected to a drive motor (notshown) and which contacts the tread portion of tire 522. Additionalrotational mechanisms can be used such as one or more guide rollers 534,536, 538. One or more of the guide rollers 534, 536, 538 can beconnected to a rotational drive means (not shown) such as an electricmotor, pneumatic motor, hydraulic motor or the like wherein the guideroller imparts rotational energy to the tire 522 by way of its sidewallportion 526. In some implementations, one or more the deforming rollers528, 530 may be coupled to a drive motor or the like to impartrotational energy the side wall of the tire while they concurrentlydeform the side wall of the tire as explained above. It is contemplatedthat the rotational energy imparted to wheel and tire assembly 509 canbe accomplished by way of a motor attached to cylinder 520 or to clamp512.

It is contemplated that wheel and tire assembly can be carried on awheeled cart 42, 66 (such as disclosed herein) from work station to workstation and that the apparatus shown in FIG. 23 can be part of a tirebead seating station. Once the robotic cart is in proper location withinthe tire bead seating station, lower wheel clamp 512 (which is part ofthe permanent portion of the wheel bead seating station) moves upwardlyengaging hub portion 518 thereby lifting wheels 68 (not shown) from thefloor. It is contemplated that the upward movement imparted by lowerwheel clamp 512 to wheel and tire assembly 9 can also be used to drivethe upper side wall portion of tire 522 against guide rollers 534, 536,538 if such guide rollers are used. These guide rollers, if used, canfunction to stabilize the tire during its rotation as described above.Once the tire 522 is manipulated against guide rollers 534, 536, 538,deforming rollers 528, 530 and roller 532 (if used) can be manipulatedinto place to accomplish the bead seating function described above.

FIG. 24 illustrates an exemplary implementation of an upper wheel clamp510, a lower wheel clamp 512, and overhead cylinder 520 which functionto clampingly retain the hub portion 518 of wheel 519 therebetween andwith the addition of a lifting drive mechanism (not shown) are capableof lifting a wheeled cart 42, 66 off of the floor (wheeled cart notshown). The details of the interaction between upper wheel clamp 510,lower wheel clamp 512, overhead cylinder, and lifting mechanism arediscussed above and will not be repeated here. Unlike the implementationillustrated in FIG. 23, the implementation illustrated in FIG. 24, doesnot use rotational movement about axis 515 in conjunction with deformingrollers 528, 530 to disturb the seating area between tire bead and wheelbead seat. Rather, the implementation illustrated in FIG. 24 may use twoplatens (upper platen 540 and lower platen 542) to squeeze against therespectively associated upper and lower side wall portions of tire 522while still remaining spaced apart 544, 546 from the lateral edge ofwheel 519. Once this sandwiching relationship between the side wallportions of tire 519 and upper and lower platens 540, 542 has beenestablished, one or both platens 540, 542 are vibrated 548 against theirrespectively associated tire side wall portions such that thevibrational energy imparted to the tire bead portion of tire 522 causesthe tire bead to lodge properly in the wheel bead seat. At no time doesthe platen actually contact the lateral sides of wheel 519 and thus allthe vibrational energy imparted to the wheel and tire assembly 509 isimparted from platens 540, 542 to the side walls of tire 522 in theproximate area in which the wheel bead seat interfaces to the tire bead.Vibrational energy 548 can be imparted to the platens using any numberof well known techniques such as eccentric cams rotated by electrical,hydraulic, or pneumatic energy or the like. In some implementations,after platens 540, 542 are manipulated against the side walls of tire522 to sandwich the tire side walls therebetween, the platens 540, 542can remain stationary and the hub portion 518 of wheel 519 can beupwardly and downwardly vibrated. This upward and downward vibration ofwheel 519 can be accomplished either by way of a dual purpose overheadcylinder which can be located above the tire and wheel assembly 509(shown in FIG. 24) or below tire and wheel assembly 509 (not shown inFIG. 24) or can be imparted by way of a separate vibrational mechanismshown schematically as 550 in FIG. 24. The wheel and tire assembly 509may be held fixed, and, platens 540, 542 may be vibrated against tire522, or, platens 540, 542 are held in a sandwich relationship againstthe side walls of tire 522 and wheel 519 is vibrated. An aspect of thepresent invention is that there be established a vibrationaldisplacement of the tire bead seating portion of tire 522 in proximityof the bead seating portion of wheel 519.

FIG. 25 illustrates an exemplary implementation of an inflation workstation 600. The inflation work station 600 may be included in theexemplary plant layout 30 of FIG. 1. In an implementation, the inflationwork station 600 may be included, for example, at the location of a tireinflator work station identified at reference numeral 52 of the plantlayout 30 and may perform an inflation operation so as to inflate atire-wheel assembly, TW, that includes a tire, T, that is positionedrelative a wheel, W. An inflation operation for inflating the tire-wheelassembly, TW, may be a manual operation, a fully automatic operation, ora combination of a (i.e., a hybrid) manual-automatic operation.

In some implementations, as seen, for example, in FIGS. 26A-26C, thetire-wheel assembly, TW, may be initially positioned upon a wheeled cart42 that navigates a circuit 44 of the plant layout 30; the wheeled cart42 may deliver the tire, T, and wheel, W, to the inflation work station600 such that a portion of the inflation work station 600 may engage(see, e.g., FIGS. 26B-26C) one or more of the tire, T, and, wheel, W,then lift/remove (see, e.g., FIGS. 26D-26G) the tire, T, and wheel, W,from the wheeled cart 42. As described above, the circuit 44 may includea track 46 that forms one or more paths of travel available to thewheeled cart 42. In some implementations, the track 46 can be comprisedof a track material, such as, for example, rails and the like, or, insome implementations, the track 46 may be comprised of any means (e.g.,a track reader 75 and track member 77 seen, e.g., in FIGS. 7-10) thatthe wheeled cart 42 can use to guide its movement as it traversescircuit 44.

Referring to FIG. 25, in some implementations, the inflation workstation 600 may include a working device 602. The working device 602 mayextend from an upper surface 145, 147 of a load bearing member 144, 146of the inflation work station 600. In some implementations, the wheeledcart 42 may be arranged relative the load bearing member 144, 146 in asubstantially similar fashion as seen in FIGS. 7-10. Further, in someimplementations, the upper surface 145, 147 of the load bearing member144, 146 may also include an engagement member 148, 150 that may beinterfaced with a respectively-associated mating engagement recess 152,154 (see, e.g., FIGS. 26A-26C) formed in a lower surface 137 of a worksurface member 136 of the wheeled cart 42.

As seen in FIG. 25, the working device 602 may be formed to include arobotic arm 604 having a first end 604 a and a second end 604 b. Thefirst end 604 a may be attached to the upper surface 145, 147 of theload bearing member 144, 146. The second end 604 b terminates with/mayinclude an end effecter 606 that may be selectively coupledto/selectively interfaced with the tire-wheel assembly, TW. The workingdevice 602 may also be in communication with a motor 608 and acontroller 610 for controlling movements of any portion of the workingdevice 602 and/or an inflation operation performed by the working device602 for inflating the tire-wheel assembly, TW.

In some implementations, the end effecter 606 may include a retainingapparatus 612 and an inflation apparatus 614. An orientation of one ormore components comprising the retaining apparatus 612 may be spatiallymanipulated in order to selectively engage one or more of the tire, T,and wheel, W, for retaining the tire-wheel assembly, TW, to the roboticarm 604. The inflation apparatus 614 selectively engages one or more ofthe tire, T, and wheel, W, and supplies a fluid, F (see, e.g., FIGS.26D-26E), such as, e.g., air, which may or may not be pressurized, tothe tire-wheel assembly, TW, for inflating the tire-wheel assembly, TW.

The end effecter 606 may include a wheel-engaging plunger member 616.Each of the retaining apparatus 612 and the inflation apparatus 614 maybe in/directly connected to and/or be movably-coupled relative to thewheel-engaging plunger member 616. The wheel-engaging plunger member 616may include an axially-projecting portion 618 (see also, e.g., FIGS.26A-26G). One or more of the wheel-engaging plunger member 616 and theaxially-projecting portion 618 may be interfaceably-coupled to thewheel, W. As seen in FIGS. 26B-26G, in an implementation, theaxially-projecting portion 618 may be arranged within an axial opening,W_(O), of the wheel, W. To provide a frame of reference for axial andradial directions described in the following disclosure, an axis, A-A,is shown extending through the axial opening, W_(O), of the wheel, W.

Referring to FIG. 25, in an implementation, the retaining apparatus 612may include a first tire-engaging portion 612 a and a secondtire-engaging portion 612 b each extending from a retaining apparatusbase member 620. Each of the first and second tire-engaging portions 612a, 612 b include a retaining apparatus radially-projecting portion 622that may be movably-coupled to the retaining apparatus base member 620in order to permit each of the first and second tire-engaging portions612 a, 612 b to move radially outwardly or radially inwardly accordingto the direction of arrow R, R′.

Each of the first and second tire-engaging portions 612 a, 612 b mayinclude one or more axially-projecting portions 624 that axially projectaway from a lower surface 626 of the retaining apparatusradially-projecting portion 622. Each of the axially-projecting portions624 may include a head portion 628. In some implementations, the headportion 628 of each axially-projecting portion 624 may include a greaterdimension (e.g., a greater diameter) than that of its correspondingaxially-projecting portion 624. In some implementations, the headportion 628 may include rubber or a material having a degree ofelasticity and/or a coefficient of friction that may be greater thanthat of the axially-projecting portion 624 in order to increase thelikelihood of positively-retaining the tire-wheel assembly, TW, with theretaining apparatus 612. As will be described in the followingdisclosure, the one or more head portions 628 may come into contact withand engage a tread surface, T_(T), of the tire, T.

In an implementation, the inflation apparatus 614 may include a firstinflation probe 614 a and a second inflation probe 614 b each extendingfrom an inflation apparatus base member 630. The inflation apparatusbase member 630 may be movably-coupled relative to the wheel-engagingplunger member 616 (see, e.g., FIGS. 26A, 26D-26F) in order to permitthe inflation apparatus 614 to be movably-disposed, in first or secondaxial directions A₆₁₄ (see, e.g., FIGS. 26D-26F)/A₆₁₄′ (see, e.g., FIG.26A).

Each of the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b may beconnected to the inflation apparatus base member 630 by way of a proberadially-projecting portion 632 (see, e.g., FIGS. 26A-26G). The proberadially projecting portion 632 may include a first end 632 a coupled tothe inflation apparatus base member 630 and a second end 632 b coupledto a distal end portion 656 (see, e.g., FIGS. 38-39) of the inflationprobe 614 a, 614 b. In some implementations, the second end 632 b mayform a pivot joint that permits the distal end portion 656 of theinflation probe 614 a, 614 b to pivotably move relative the proberadially-projecting portion 632 in clockwise direction orcounter-clockwise direction according to the direction of arrows, P, P′(see, e.g., FIGS. 26A-26B, 26D-26F).

FIGS. 26A-26G illustrate an exemplary series of movements of the endeffecter 606 for retaining the tire-wheel assembly, TW, with theretaining apparatus 612 and subsequently inflating the tire-wheelassembly, TW, with the inflation apparatus 614. FIG. 26A generallyillustrates the end effecter 606 in a disengaged orientation such thatno portion of the end effecter 606 comes into contact with thetire-wheel assembly, TW. FIGS. 26B-26G illustrate the end effecter 606arranged in at least a partially-engaged orientation with the tire-wheelassembly, TW. As described above, any portion of the working device 602may be in communication with one or more of the motor 608 and thecontroller 610 in order to control movements (see, e.g., FIGS. 26A-26G)of any portion of the working device 602 and/or to control an inflationoperation (see, e.g., FIGS. 26D-26E) performed by the working device 602for inflating the tire-wheel assembly, TW. Accordingly, in animplementation, the controller 610 may include a program that causesactuation of the motor 608 for driving the end effecter 606 to move oractuate in a specified manner.

Referring initially to FIG. 26A, prior to arranging any portion of theend effecter 606 in at least a partially engaged orientation with thetire-wheel assembly, TW, the first and second inflation probes 614 a,614 b may be initially arranged in an expanded orientation. If one ormore of the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b are initiallyarranged in at least a partially-retracted orientation (see, e.g.,phantom outline of the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b inFIG. 26A), one or more of the motor 608 and controller 610 may cause oneor more of the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b to pivot,P, P′, from the at least partially retracted orientation to at least apartially expanded orientation. In an implementation, the at leastpartially expanded orientation may result in the first and secondinflation probes 614 a, 614 b being arranged in an orientation that isspatially beyond a circumference, W_(C),/diameter, W_(D), of the wheel,W, such that any portion of the wheel, W, does not interfere with thefirst and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b as the first and secondinflation probes 614 a, 614 b are axially moved, A₆₁₄′, A₆₁₆, proximatea bead seat, W_(BS), of the wheel, W.

Although it has been explained above that the first and second inflationprobes 614 a, 614 b may be initially arranged to be in an expandedorientation to alleviate potential interference of the wheel, W, withthe first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b, in somecircumstances, the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b may bearranged in an orientation that may be significantly beyond thecircumference, W_(C),/diameter, W_(D), of the wheel, W. Thus, althoughthe first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b may be initiallyarranged in an initially expanded or initially retracted orientation,such “expanded” or “retracted” orientations may be relative in view of asize/geometry of the wheel, W. For example, some wheels, W, may besmaller, e.g., in diameter, W_(D), than that of other wheels, W;accordingly, in some implementations, although the first and secondinflation probes 614 a, 614 b may appear to be in at least a partiallyretracted orientation, if the wheel, W, is significantly small, e.g., indiameter, W_(D), the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b maynot have to be further expanded from at least a partially retractedorientation.

In some implementations, the end effecter 606 may further include asensor 634 that may sense, S, a geometry, such as, e.g., the diameter,W_(D), of the wheel, W. The sensor 634 may be in communication with oneor more of the motor 608 and controller 610 in order to cause one ormore of the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b to pivot, P,P′, to/from retracted and expanded orientations. Accordingly, in someimplementations, the sensor 634 may be utilized during the procedure forarranging the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b in one ofan expanded/retracted orientation in order to compensate for potentiallydifferent wheel geometries. By refining the expanded/retractedorientation of the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b inresponse to sensing, S, the geometry of the wheel, W, manufacturing timemay be saved by automatically arranging the first and second inflationprobes 614 a, 614 b to be in an orientation that is, e.g., just beyondthe sensed diameter, W_(D), of the wheel, W, rather than manuallyarranging the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b in anorientation to accommodate a particular geometry of a particular wheel,W.

Before, during or after any pivoting movement, P, P′, of the first andsecond inflation probes 614 a, 614 b described above, axial movement,A₆₁₄′, A₆₁₆, of one or more portions of the end effecter 606 may resultin one or more of the wheel engaging plunger member 616 andaxially-projecting portion 618 being located proximate the wheel, W,and/or the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b being locatedproximate the bead seat, W_(BS), of the wheel, W, in response to, forexample, actuation of/instruction from one or more of the motor 608 andcontroller 610. As illustrated in FIG. 26A, an implement of the axialmovement may include one or more axial components, which are showngenerally at arrows A₆₁₄′, A₆₁₆. In some implementations, a first axialcomponent may include axial movement identified at arrow A₆₁₄′ that isrelated to axial movement of the inflation apparatus base member 630relative the wheel-engaging plunger member 616 of the end effecter 606(see, e.g., a comparison of an axial spacing, AS, between, e.g., a fixedorientation of the retaining apparatus base member 620 and the non-fixedorientation of the inflation apparatus base member 630 in FIGS. 26A and26B). In some implementations, a second axial component may includeaxial movement identified at reference sign A₆₁₆ that is related toaxial movement of the wheel engaging plunger member 616 of the endeffecter 606 that may arise from, for example, a change in orientationof the robotic arm 604 such that the second end 604 b of the robotic arm604 may be moved closer to the tire-wheel assembly, TW, in a plungingmotion. As explained above, one or more of the motor 608 and controller610 may cause one or more of the axial movements, A₆₁₄′, A₆₁₆.

Referring to FIG. 26B, the axial movement A₆₁₆ may result in theaxially-projecting portion 618 of the wheel engaging plunger member 616being disposed through the axial opening, W_(O), of the wheel, W.Further, one or more of the axial movement A₆₁₄′, A₆₁₆ may result in thefirst and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b being located in aspaced-apart, but proximate orientation relative to the bead seat,W_(BS), of the wheel, W, while also locating the first and secondinflation probes 614 a, 614 b substantially adjacent at least a portionof a sidewall, T_(S), of the tire, T. The locating of the wheel engagingplunger member 616 within the axial opening, W_(O), of the wheel, W, mayalso assist in arranging/positioning/anchoring the end effecter 606 in apre-inflation orientation relative of the wheel, W. The locating of thefirst and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b substantially adjacent atleast a portion of the sidewall, T_(S), of the tire, T, may serve toposition the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b in apre-inflation “ready position” prior to at least partially engaging thewheel, W, as seen in FIG. 26C, which may be in response to pivotingmovement, P, P′, of the first and second inflations probes 614 a, 614 bfrom at least a partially expanded orientation (see, e.g., FIG. 26B) toat least a partially retracted orientation (see, e.g., FIG. 26C).

Referring to FIG. 26C, movement of the first and second inflation probes614 a, 614 b to at least a partially retracted orientation results in anupper lip 636 of the distal end portion 656 of each of the first andsecond inflation probes 614 a, 614 b “kissing”/contacting a portion ofthe wheel, W, proximate the bead seat, W_(BS), of the wheel, W, suchthat the distal end portion 656 of each of the first and secondinflation probes 614 a, 614 b may be disposed/wedges between a portionof the bead, T_(B), of the tire, T, and the bead seat, W_(BS), of thewheel, W. As a result of the orientation of the first and secondinflation probes 614 a, 614 b, which results in the “kissing”/contactingof the wheel, W, as described above, a probe fluid conduit 638 formedwithin the distal end portion 656 may be arranged in a substantiallyspaced-apart, opposing relationship with respect to a portion of acircumferential rim, W_(R), of the wheel, W.

Further, as seen in FIG. 26C, prior to/during/after movement of thefirst and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b, the retaining apparatusradially-projecting portions 622 may be radially-retracted inwardly intothe retaining apparatus base member 620 according to the direction ofthe arrows, R, R′, for causing corresponding radially-inward movement ofthe axially-projecting portions 624 and head portions 628 according tothe direction of the arrows, R, R′; accordingly, movement of theretaining apparatus radially-projecting portions 622 may result in thehead portions 628 coming into contact with and engaging the treadsurface, T_(T), of the tire, T (see, e.g., FIG. 26D).

As similarly described above, the sensor 634 may sense a geometry of thetire-wheel assembly, TW, such as, for example, an outer diameter of thetire, T. Accordingly, the sensor 634 may cause one or more of the motor608 and controller 610 to provide the radial movement, R, R′, of theretaining apparatus radially-projecting portions 622, theaxially-projecting portions 624 and the head portions 628 in order toengage differently-sized tires, T. As such, the radial movement, R, R′,may result in the retaining apparatus 612 being arranged in one of anexpanded and retracted orientation in order to arrange the retainingapparatus in a pre-engagement orientation relative to the tire, T, andan engaged orientation with the tire, T.

Referring to FIG. 26D, one or more primary fluid conduits 640 may extendthrough one or more of: the wheel-engaging plunger member 616, theinflation apparatus base member 630 and the probe radially-projectingportions 632. The one or more primary fluid conduits 640 may be in fluidcommunication with the probe fluid conduit 638. Although the one or moreprimary fluid conduits 640 are shown in phantom in order to allude thatthe conduits 640 may be arranged within one or more of theabove-identified structure, the conduits 640 may alternatively belocated exterior to the structure and may be formed by, e.g., hoses (notshown) that are located exterior to one or more of the above-identifiedstructure.

Once the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b and headportions 628 are positioned relative the wheel, W, and tire, T, asshown, for example, in FIG. 26C, fluid, F (see, e.g., FIG. 26D), whichmay or may not be pressurized, may be provided through the primary fluidconduit 640 and then into the probe fluid conduit 638 such that thefluid, F, may ultimately be evacuated out of the probe fluid conduit 638and into the tire-wheel assembly, TW. The fluid, F, may be provided froma fluid source (not shown), or, alternatively, the fluid, F, may bepumped from atmosphere. In an implementation, the circumferential rim,W_(R), of the wheel, W, and an inner surface, T_(IS), of the tire, T,may form the tire-wheel assembly, TW, to include a fluid cavity, C, thatreceives the fluid, F, from the fluid conduits 638, 640 of the endeffecter 606. As will be described in the following disclosure at FIGS.27-37, the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b may or may notinclude structure that assists in obscuring/blocking-off/at leastpartially sealing access openings, C_(O), to the cavity, C, that is/areformed by the orientation of the first and second inflation probes 614a, 614 b relative one or more of the wheel, W, and tire, T, during theinflation process.

Referring to FIGS. 26D-26E, as the fluid, F, is filling the cavity, C,the tire, T, may be said to be inflated or expanded such that at least aportion of the sidewall, T_(S), of the tire, T, may expandably-conformto an outer surface profile of one or more of the distal end portions656 of the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b. Further, asthe fluid, F, is filling the cavity, C, the tread surface, T_(T), of thetire, T, may be expanded outwardly, pushing the head portions 628 awayfrom the tire-wheel assembly, TW, according to the direction of thearrows, R, R′, which may correspondingly cause the axially-projectingportions 624 and the retaining apparatus radially-projecting portions622 to be expanded or moved radially-outwardly according to thedirection of the arrows, R, R′. Further, as a result of the fluid, F,being evacuated from the conduit 638 of the first and second inflationprobes 614 a, 614 b, the fluid, F, if pressurized, may cause the firstand second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b to “take off” or pivot awayfrom the tire-wheel assembly, TW, according to the direction of thearrows, P, P′, such that the first and second inflation probes 614 a,614 b may be said to be moved from the at least partially retractedorientation to at least a partially expanded orientation; however, inthe absence of the fluid, F, being pressurized, or, in addition to thefluid being pressurized, one or more of the motor 608 and controller 610may cause the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b to pivot,P, P′, and/or the inflation apparatus base member 630 to raise the firstand second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b away from the tire-wheelassembly, TW, according to the direction of the axial arrow, A₆₁₄, suchthat the axial spacing, AS, between the retaining apparatus base member620 and the inflation apparatus base member 630 may be reduced.

Referring to FIG. 26F, as a result of the fluid, F, filling the cavity,C, the tire-wheel assembly, TW, becomes pressurized and results in abead, T_(B), of the tire, T, being moved by the fluid, F, such that thebead, T_(B), of the tire, T, may be located proximate the bead seat,W_(BS), of the wheel, W. As illustrated, the bead, T_(B), of the tire,T, may be located proximate the bead seat, W_(BS), of the wheel, W, in asealing relationship such that the fluid, F, may be trapped within thecavity, C, causing the tire, T, to be inflatably-pressurized relativethe wheel, W. However, as seen in FIG. 26F, although the bead, T_(B), ofthe tire, T, is located proximate the bead seat, W_(BS), of the wheel,W, a portion of the distal end portion 656 of the first and secondinflation probes 614 a, 614 b may still be located adjacent at least aportion of the sidewall, T_(S), of the tire, T, such that the bead,T_(B), of the tire, T, may not be entirely disposed adjacent/within thebead seat, W_(BS), of the wheel, W. Further, as seen in FIG. 26F,because the fluid, F, has further filled the cavity, C, in comparison tothe previous views illustrated in FIGS. 26D-26E, the tread surface,T_(T), of the tire, T, may be further expanded outwardly according tothe direction of arrows, R, R′, pushing the head portions 628 furtheraway from the tire-wheel assembly, TW, which may correspondingly causethe axially-projecting portions 624 and the retaining apparatusradially-projecting portions 622 to be further expanded or movedradially-outwardly according to the direction of the arrows, R, R′. Evenfurther, as a result of the fluid, F, still being evacuated from theconduit 638 of the first and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b, thefirst and second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b may further “take off” orpivot away from the tire-wheel assembly, TW, according to the directionof the arrows, P, P′, and/or, as described above, one or more of themotor 608 and controller 610 may cause the first and second inflationprobes 614 a, 614 b to further pivot, P, P′, from at least a partiallyretracted orientation to the at least a partially expanded orientation.Further, one or more of the motor 608 and controller 610 may cause theaxial spacing, AS, between the retaining apparatus base member 620 andthe inflation apparatus base member 630 to be reduced by retracting theapparatus base member 620 toward the inflation apparatus base member630.

Referring to FIG. 26G, movement of the fluid, F, through the conduits638, 640 may be ceased. Further, as a result of the reduction of theaxial spacing, AS, between the retaining apparatus base member 620 andthe inflation apparatus base member 630 by retracting the inflationapparatus base member 630 toward the retaining apparatus base member620, the distal end portion 656 of the first and second inflation probes614 a, 614 b may no longer be located adjacent / proximate at least aportion of the sidewall, T_(S), of the tire, T, such that the bead,T_(B), of the tire, T, may be permitted to be located adjacent/becomeseated within the bead seat, W_(BS), of the wheel, W; accordingly, itmay be said that the tire-wheel assembly, TW, shown in FIG. 26G isinflated. Once the tire-wheel assembly, TW, has been inflated, one ormore of the motor 608 and controller 610 may cause the robotic arm 604to withdrawal the end effecter 606 according to the direction of thearrow, A₆₀₆, such that the end effecter 606 may, for example, transportthe tire-wheel assembly, TW, to another processing station associatedwith the plant layout 30.

Referring to FIG. 27, a side elevational view referenced from arrow 27of FIG. 26D is shown according to an implementation. Referring to FIG.28, a partial, enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 26D is shown inreference to line 28 of FIG. 26D and cross-sectional line 28-28 of FIG.27.

As seen in FIGS. 26D and 28, it would appear (in view of the illustratedcross-sectional views) that the upper lip 636 of each of the first andsecond inflation probes 614 a, 614 b sealingly-contact a portion of thewheel, W, proximate the bead seat, W_(BS); however, as seen in the viewof FIG. 27, the arrangement of the distal end portion 656 of the firstand second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b relative the tire, T, andwheel, W, may result in a pair of access openings, C_(O), to the cavity,C. Accordingly, in view of the structural configuration/geometry of thedistal end portion 656 of the first and second inflation probes 614 a,614 b, it may be said that the upper lip 636 may not entirely seal-offthe cavity, C, from atmosphere. Thus, as a result of the pair of accessopenings, C_(O), to the cavity, C, the fluid, F, may be permitted toescape from the cavity, C, during the inflation operation; if the fluid,F, is permitted to escape as described above, a period of time to fillthe cavity, C, may be undesirably increased and/or the cavity, C, maynot be adequately filled with fluid, F, as a result of some of thefluid, F, escaping the cavity, C.

Referring to FIG. 29, an enlarged view referenced from line 29, 32 ofFIG. 27 is shown. Referring to FIG. 30, an enlarged view of a portion ofFIG. 29 is shown that focuses on one of the access openings, C_(O), tothe cavity, C.

As seen in FIGS. 29-30, the access opening, C_(O), generally appears tobe illustrated to include a hashed or “checkerboard” pattern; however,the hashed or checkerboard pattern is not in reference to across-sectional view, but, rather, is in reference to a view of aportion of the inner surface, T_(IS), of the tire, T, opposite that ofthe tread surface, T_(T), so as to differentiate an example of ageometry of the access opening, C_(O), formed by/relative to the tire,T, and wheel, W. Referring to FIG. 30, the access opening, C_(O), may begenerally formed by a side surface 642 of the distal end portion 656 ofthe inflation probe 614 a, 614 b, a lower body surface portion,W_(BS-LB), of a lower lip, W_(BS-LL), forming the bead seat, W_(BS), andan upper body surface portion, T_(B-UB), of the bead, T_(B), of thetire, T.

Referring to FIGS. 32-34, an alternative embodiment of a structuralconfiguration/geometry of the distal end portion 656 of the first andsecond inflation probes 614 a, 614 b of FIGS. 29-31 is shown generallyat 614 a′, 614 b′ according to an implementation. The first and secondinflation probes 614 a′, 614 b′ are substantially similar to the firstand second inflation probes 614 a, 614 b with the exception that thedistal end portion 656 of the first and second inflation probes 614 a′,614 b′ of FIGS. 32-34 include an access opening close-out device 644.The access opening close-out device 644 is also shown in FIGS. 35-37;however, the access opening close-out device 644 is shown in a stowedorientation in FIGS. 32-34 whereas the access opening close-out device644 is shown in a deployed orientation in FIGS. 35-37.

As seen in FIGS. 32-37, the access opening close-out device 644generally includes an inflatable bladder 646 that is connected to thedistal end portion 656 of the inflation probe 614 a′, 614 b′. When theinflatable bladder 646 is in a stowed orientation (see, e.g., FIG. 34),the access opening, C_(O), may remain un-obscured (see, e.g., FIG. 33),and, conversely, when the inflatable bladder 646 is in a deployedorientation (see, e.g., FIG. 37), the access opening, C_(O), may be atleast partially obscured or at least partially “closed-out” (see, e.g.,FIG. 36) by the inflatable bladder 646 such that the inflatable bladder646 may be disposed proximate or substantially adjacent one or more ofthe side surface 642, the lower body surface portion, W_(BS-LB), and theupper body surface portion, T_(B-UB), in order to at least partiallyseal/close-out/obscure the access opening, C_(O), in order to inhibit orprevent the fluid, F, to escape to atmosphere. In some implementations,when the inflatable bladder 646 is arranged in a deployed orientation,approximately 100% of the access opening, C_(O), may be sealed-off;however, in some implementations, as seen in FIG. 36, for example, morethan 0% of the access opening, C_(O), may be obscured or at leastpartially sealed-off (e.g., the illustrated implementation of FIG. 36shows the inflatable bladder 646 obscuring approximately 65% of theaccess opening, C_(O)).

In an implementation, the inflatable bladder 646 may be arranged upon anexterior surface 648 of the distal end portion 656 of the inflationprobe 614 a′, 614 b′. In some implementations, the inflatable bladder646 may be disposed upon a portion of the exterior surface 648 thatforms at least a portion of the upper lip 636 of the inflation probe 614a′, 614 b′.

The inflatable bladder 646 may be arranged upon the upper lip 636 of theinflation probe 614 a′ 614 b′ such that when the inflation probe 614 a′,614 b′ is arranged in a substantially similar orientation as seen, forexample, in FIG. 26D, the inflation bladder 646 may be located in anorientation that is proximate and/or substantially opposite a portion ofthe bead seat, W_(BS), of the wheel, W, such as, for example, the lowerlip, W_(BS-LL), of the bead seat, W_(BS). Accordingly, when theinflatable bladder 646 is arranged to be in the deployed orientation, atleast a portion of the inflatable bladder 646 may be disposed adjacentat least a portion of the lower lip, W_(BS-LL), of the bead seat,W_(BS).

In some implementations, the access opening close-out device 644 mayinclude a substantially rigid guide flange 650. The substantially rigidguide flange 650 may be connected to or located proximate/adjacent aportion of an exterior surface 652 of the inflatable bladder 646. Thesubstantially rigid guide flange 650 may assist in directing theinflatable bladder 646 (e.g., in a substantially radial direction)toward one or more of the lower body surface portion W_(BS-LB), and theupper body surface portion, T_(B-UB). By directing the inflatablebladder 646 toward one or more of the lower body surface portion,W_(BS-LB), and the upper body surface portion, T_(B-UB), thesubstantially rigid guide flange 650 may preferably inhibit theinflatable bladder 646 from being undesirably-projecting toward a valleyportion, W_(BS-V) (see, e.g., FIGS. 34, 37), of the bead seat, W_(BS),that receives a distal end, T_(B-D) (see, e.g., FIGS. 34, 37), of thebead, T_(B), of the tire, T; rather, the substantially rigid guideflange 650 preferably directs the inflatable bladder 646 toward thelower body portion, W_(BS-LB), of the bead seat, W_(BS), in order tomaintain the desired affect of at least partially sealing-off the accessopening, C_(O).

The inflatable bladder 646 may be arranged in the expanded orientationvia any desirable methodology. For example, referring to FIGS. 34 and37, in some implementations, a cavity 646 _(C) of the inflatable bladder646 may be in fluid communication with the probe fluid conduit 638 byway of a probe fluid channel 654; accordingly, upon commencement of theinflation operation, a portion, F_(P) (see, e.g., FIG. 37), of thefluid, F, may be diverted to the cavity 646 c of the inflatable bladder646 by way of the probe fluid channel 654. Although some implementationsmay include the above structure/methodology for expanding the inflatablebladder 646, the inflatable bladder 646 may be expanded independently ofthe fluid, F, such as, for example, by way of a hose or otherindependent conduit (not shown) that is in fluid communication with thecavity 646 _(C) of the inflatable bladder 646.

Referring to FIGS. 38-39, the distal end portion 656 of the inflationprobe 614 a, 614 b, 614 a′, 614 b′ is shown according to animplementation. The distal end portion 656 may be formed from anydesirable material, M, such as, for example, a plastic resin, metal orthe like. In an implementation, the distal end portion 656 is formedfrom one material, M, such as for example, urethane resin.

The distal end portion 656 generally includes a first body portion 656 aand a second body portion 656 b. The first body portion 656 a may bereferred to as an axial body portion, extending along an axis A₆₅₆-A₆₅₆,and, the second body portion 656 b may be referred to as an angular bodyportion that angularly deviates from the first body portion 656 a at anangle, θ.

The first body portion 656 a may form a fluid inlet end 658 havingformed by a first end surface 660 and a fluid outlet end 662 formed by asecond end surface 664. The fluid, F, may flow from the primary fluidconduit 640 and into the probe fluid conduit 638 by way of one or morefluid inlet openings 666 a-666 d formed in the first end surface 660,and, the fluid, F, may flow out of the probe fluid conduit 638 by way ofone or more fluid outlet openings 668 a-668 d formed in second endsurface 664. In some implementations, the probe fluid conduit 638 mayform one conduit that is in fluid communication with each of the inletand outlet openings 666 a-666 d, 668 a-668 d. Alternatively, in someimplementations, the probe fluid conduit 638 may form more than oneconduit that are each respectively associated with a corresponding pairof inlet and outlet openings 666 a-666 d, 668 a-668 d; for example, theprobe fluid conduit 638 may include four probe fluid conduits 638 thatare each correspondingly associated with the inlet and outlet openingpairs 666 a/668 a, 666 b/668 b, 666 c/668 c and 666 d/668 d.

Referring to FIGS. 40-41, an alternative distal end portion 656′ of theinflation probe 614 a, 614 b, 614 a′, 614 b′ is shown according to animplementation. The distal end portion 656′ may be formed from anydesirable material such as, for example, a plastic resin, metal or thelike. Because the distal end portion 656′ is substantially similar tothe distal end portion 656, reference numerals are repeated in FIGS.40-41 and not described in further detail here for the purposes ofreducing redundancies. Structurally, however, it is recognized that theimplementation of the distal end portion 656′ includes one inlet opening666 a rather than four inlet openings 666 a-666 d, and, the distal endportion 656′ includes five outlet openings 668 a-668 e rather than fouroutlet openings 668 a-668 d.

In an implementation, the distal end portion 656′ may be furtherdistinguished from the distal end portion 656 in that the distal endportion 656′ is formed from more than one material, M, such as, forexample, a first material, M1, and a second material, M2. In animplementation, the first material, M1, may include a first type ofurethane resin whereas the second material, M2, may include a secondtype of urethane resin. Because the distal end portion 656′ may beformed from two different types of material, M1, M2, the distal endportion 656′ may be formed, for example, in a “two shot” injectionmolding operation; alternatively, the materials, M1, M2, may be formedseparately and later attached to one another.

In an implementation, the first material, M1, may include a firsthardness characteristic whereas the second material, M2, may include asecond hardness characteristic. The hardness characteristics may bedescribed in units, such as, for example, hardness units (e.g., a “Shoredurometer,” which may alternative be referred to as a “durometer”). Adurometer unit may be classified in one of two scales that are commonlyreferred to as a “type A” scale (e.g., a soft plastic) and a “type D”scale (e.g., a hard plastic). Although two durometer scales arementioned here, it is known that other durometer scales also exist andmany include, for example, the following scales: A, B, C, D, DO, E, M,O, OO, OOO, OOO-S and R. Further, each scale may include a value rangingbetween “0” and “100” with higher values corresponding to a hardercharacteristic.

In an implementation, the first material, M1, may include, for example,a durometer hardness of approximately D-60 whereas the second material,M2, may include, for example, a durometer hardness of approximatelyA-60. Accordingly, in an implementation, the first material, M1, mayinclude a harder characteristic than that of the second material, M2(i.e., the second material, M2, may have a hardness characteristic thatis less than that of the first material, M1,/the second material, M2,may be said to be “softer” than that of the first material, M1).

Referring to FIG. 41, the softer second material, M2, may comprise atleast a portion of the second end surface 664. The second end surface664 may form the upper lip 636 and a lower lip 670; in combination, theupper lip 636 and the lower lip 670 may form a “mouth” that may bedefined by the one or more outlet openings 668 a-668 e; in someimplementations, the second material, M2, may compose a portion of theupper lip 636 and a portion of the lower lip 670 such that the secondmaterial, M2, forms the mouth that creates the one or more outletopenings 668 a-668 e to increase the sealability of the distal endportion 656′ over that of the distal end portion 656. In someimplementations, as seen in FIG. 41, for example, the second material,M2, may form at least a portion of each of the upper lip 636 and thelower lip 670 such that the second material, M2, may form substantiallyall of the lower lip 670 while forming approximately half of the upperlip 636.

The second material, M2, may serve one or more purposes in associationwith the operation of the inflation probe 614 a, 614 b, 614 a′, 614 b′.For example, because the second material, M2, is relatively soft, thesecond material, M2, may be dynamically shaped in a manner so as toconform to anything that the second end surface 664 may come intocontact with such as, for example, one or more of the wheel, W, andtire, T; by being able to conform to a portion of one or more of thewheel, W, and the tire, T, the second material, M2, may promote anincreased sealability of the distal end portion 656′ over that of thedistal end portion 656. Further, because the second material, M2, may besoft, the second material, M2, may be inhibited from imparting damageto, for example, the lower body portion, W_(BS-LB), of the bead seat,W_(BS), of the wheel, W, whereas a relatively harder material that mayform the distal end portion 656 may otherwise more easily impart damageto the lower body portion, W_(BS-LB), of the bead seat, W_(BS), of thewheel, W.

Referring to FIGS. 42-43A, an alternative distal end portion 656″ of theinflation probe 614 a, 614 b, 614 a′, 614 b′ is shown according to animplementation. The distal end portion 656″ may be formed from anydesirable material such as, for example, a plastic resin, metal or thelike. Because the distal end portion 656″ is substantially similar tothe distal end portion 656, reference numerals are repeated in FIGS.42-43A and not described in further detail here for the purposes ofreducing redundancies. Structurally, however, it is recognized that theimplementation of the distal end portion 656″ includes one inlet opening666 a rather than four inlet openings 666 a-666 d, and, the distal endportion 656″ includes one outlet opening 668 a rather than four outletopenings 668 a-668 d.

Further, referring to FIG. 43A, the second body portion 656 b may not bereferred to as an “angular” second body portion because the second bodyportion 656 b does not angularly deviate from the first body portion 656a; accordingly, for illustrative purposes, the angle, θ, is representedfor illustrative purposes only in order to show that the angle, θ, isapproximately 0°. In an alternative implement as seen in FIG. 43B, adistal end portion 656″* is substantially similar to that of the distalend portion 656″ with the exception that the distal end portion 6565″*is further distinguished in a manner that includes more than onematerial, M, such as, for example, a first material, M1, and a secondmaterial, M2. The inclusion of the first and second materials, M1, M2serves the same purposes as described above and are not described infurther detail here for the purpose of reducing redundancies.

Referring to FIGS. 44-45A, an alternative distal end portion 656′″ ofthe inflation probe 614 a, 614 b, 614 a′, 614 b′ is shown according toan implementation. The distal end portion 656′″ may be formed from anydesirable material such as, for example, a plastic resin, metal or thelike. Because the distal end portion 656″′ is substantially similar tothe distal end portion 656″, reference numerals are repeated in FIGS.44-45A and not described in further detail here for the purposes ofreducing redundancies. Structurally, however, it is recognized that theimplementation of the distal end portion 656′″ is different than that ofthe distal end portion 656″ in that the lower lip 670 of the distal endportion 656″′ extends axially beyond that of the lower lip 670 of thedistal end portion 656″ (see, comparatively, FIGS. 43A and 45A). In analternative implement as seen in FIG. 45B, a distal end portion 656′″*is substantially similar to that of the distal end portion 656″′ withthe exception that the distal end portion 6565″′* is furtherdistinguished in a manner that includes more than one material, M, suchas, for example, a first material, M1, and a second material, M2. Theinclusion of the first and second materials, M1, M2 serves the samepurposes as described above and are not described in further detail herefor the purpose of reducing redundancies.

Referring to FIGS. 46-47A, an alternative distal end portion 656″″ ofthe inflation probe 614 a, 614 b, 614 a′, 614 b′ is shown according toan implementation. The distal end portion 656″″ may be formed from anydesirable material such as, for example, a plastic resin, metal or thelike. Because the distal end portion 656″″ is substantially similar tothe distal end portion 656, reference numerals are repeated in FIGS.46-47A and not described in further detail here for the purposes ofreducing redundancies. Structurally, however, it is recognized that theimplementation of the distal end portion 656″″ is different than that ofthe distal end portion 656 in that the second body portion 656 b may bereferred to as an angular body portion that angularly deviates from thefirst body portion 656 a at first angle, θ₁, and, further, at a secondangle, θ₂ (see, e.g., FIG. 47A).

Further, a portion of the probe fluid conduit 638 formed by the firstbody portion 656 a, which may be referred to as an axial body portion,that is proximate the fluid inlet end 658 may be formed by an innerthreaded surface portion 672. The threaded surface portion 672 maypermit a threaded end (not shown) of, for example, a hose (not shown) tobe connected to the distal end portion 656″″ for supplying the fluid, F,to the distal end portion 656″″.

Further, the distal end portion 656″″ may be formed from more than onematerial, such as, for example, a first material, M1, a second material,M2, and a third material, M3. In an implementation, each of the threematerials, M1-M3, may include a rigid, metallic material. In analternative implement as seen in FIG. 47B, a distal end portion 656″″*is substantially similar to that of the distal end portions 656″″ withthe exception that the distal end portion 6565″″* is furtherdistinguished in a manner that includes a fourth, non-metallic material,M4, that is similar to the second material, M2, of the distal endportions 656′, 656″*, 656″′*. The inclusion of the fourth material, M4,that is similar to the second material, M2, of the distal end portions656′, 656″*, 656′″* serves the same purposes as described above and isnot described in further detail here for the purpose of reducingredundancies.

Referring to FIGS. 48-49A, an alternative distal end portion 656′″″ ofthe inflation probe 614 a, 614 b, 614 a′, 614 b′ is shown according toan implementation. The distal end portion 656″″′ may be formed from anydesirable material such as, for example, a plastic resin, metal or thelike. Because the distal end portion 656′″″ is substantially similar tothe distal end portion 656″″, reference numerals are repeated in FIGS.48-49A and not described in further detail here for the purposes ofreducing redundancies. Structurally, the implementation of the distalend portion 656′″″ is shown to include a hose 674 that fluidly-couplesthe first and second body portions 656 a, 656 b. A first end 674 a ofthe hose 674 may be located within a fitting 676 of the second bodyportion 656 b, and, an intermediate portion 674 b of the hose 674 mayinclude a carrier member 678 (see, e.g., FIG. 49A) having an outerthreaded surface 680 that is threadingly-coupled to the inner threadedsurface portion 672 of the probe fluid conduit 638.

In an alternative implement as seen in FIG. 49B, a distal end portion656″″′* is substantially similar to that of the distal end portions656′″″ with the exception that the distal end portion 6565′″″* isfurther distinguished in a manner that includes a fifth, non-metallicmaterial, M5, that is similar to the second material, M2, of the distalend portions 656′, 656″*, 656′″*. The inclusion of the fifth material,M5, that is similar to the second material, M2, of the distal endportions 656′, 656″*, 656″′* serves the same purposes as described aboveand is not described in further detail here for the purpose of reducingredundancies.

Referring to FIGS. 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48, each of the distal endportions 656-656″″′ include an intermediate portion 682 extendingbetween the fluid inlet end 658 and the fluid outlet end 662. At least aportion of an outer surface 684 of the intermediate portion 682 forms anarcuate geometry. The arcuate geometry assists in conforming to theouter surface profile of the wheel, W, when the distal end portions656-656″″′ is moved to an orientation that is adjacent the wheel, W.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the following claims. Forexample, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in adifferent order and still achieve desirable results.

1. An inflation work station for inflating a tire-wheel assemblyincluding a tire mounted to a wheel, comprising: a working device havingan end effecter, wherein the end effecter includes a wheel-engagingplunger member, a retaining apparatus connected to the wheel-engagingplunger member, and an inflation apparatus connected to thewheel-engaging plunger member, wherein the retaining apparatus includesat least one tire-engaging portion extending from a retaining apparatusbase member, wherein the inflation apparatus includes at least oneinflation probe extending from an inflation apparatus base member. 2.The inflation work station according to claim 1, further comprising amotor and a controller that provides means for: spatially manipulatingone or more of the retaining apparatus and the inflation apparatus,wherein the spatial manipulation of the retaining apparatus results inthe selective engagement of the at least one tire-engaging portion withthe tire of the tire-wheel assembly, wherein the spatial manipulation ofthe inflation apparatus results in the at least one inflation probebeing arranged proximate a bead seat of the wheel of the tire-wheelassembly prior to supplying fluid from the inflation apparatus to acavity of the tire-wheel assembly for inflating the tire-wheel assembly.3. The inflation work station according to claim 2, further comprising:a sensor coupled to the end effecter, wherein the sensor is incommunication with one or more of the motor and the controller, whereinthe sensor provides means for sensing and communicating a geometry ofone or more of the tire and the wheel to one or more of the motor andcontroller for causing one or more of the motor and controller tospatially manipulate one or more of the retaining apparatus and theinflation apparatus to one or an expanded orientation and a retractedorientation.
 4. The inflation work station according to claim 1, whereinthe at least one tire-engaging portion includes: at least onesubstantially radially-projecting portion movably-coupled to theretaining apparatus base member, at least one substantiallyaxially-projecting portion projecting away from a lower surface of theat least one substantially radially-projecting portion, and at least onehead portion connected to the at least one substantiallyaxially-projecting portion.
 5. The inflation work station according toclaim 4, wherein the at least one head portion provides: means forengaging a tread surface of the tire, wherein movement of one or more ofthe at least one substantially radially-projecting portion, the at leastone substantially axially-projecting portion and the at least one headportion provides means for arranging the retaining apparatus in one of apre-engagement, expanded orientation relative to the tire and aretracted, engaged orientation with the tire.
 6. The inflation workstation according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inflation probeincludes: at least one radially-projecting portion movably-coupled tothe inflation apparatus base member, wherein the at least one radiallyprojecting portion includes a first end coupled to the inflationapparatus base member and a second end forming a pivot joint.
 7. Theinflation work station according to claim 6, wherein second end formingthe pivot joint provides: means for pivotably-moving a distal endportion of the at least one inflation probe in clockwise direction orcounter-clockwise direction.
 8. The inflation work station according toclaim 1, wherein the wheel-engaging plunger member includes anaxially-projecting portion that provides means for engaging a an axialopening of the wheel.
 9. The inflation work station according to claim1, wherein the working device includes a robotic arm having a first endand a second end, wherein the first end of the robotic arm is attachedto an upper surface of a load bearing member, wherein the second end ofthe robotic arm includes the end effecter.
 10. The inflation workstation according to claim 9, wherein the upper surface of the loadbearing member includes an engagement member that provides: means forinterfaceably-coupling the load bearing member to a work surface memberof a wheeled cart, wherein the engagement member is disposable within arecess formed in a lower surface of the work surface member of thewheeled cart, wherein the wheeled cart transports an un-inflated thetire-wheel assembly to the inflation work station.
 11. The inflationwork station according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inflationprobe includes: a distal end portion that provides means for disposingthe at least one inflation probe between a portion of a bead of the tireand a bead seat of the wheel in order to permit the at least oneinflation probe to provide fluid to a cavity formed by the tire-wheelassembly for inflating the tire-wheel assembly, wherein the disposedorientation of the distal end portion between the portion of the bead ofthe tire and the bead seat of the wheel forms one or more accessopenings to the cavity, wherein the one or more access openings resultin the cavity being non-sealably-exposed to atmosphere.
 12. Theinflation work station according to claim 11, wherein the distal endportion includes: an access opening close-out device that provides meansfor at least partially sealing the one or more access openings of thecavity for at least partially inhibiting the fluid deposited into thecavity from escaping to the atmosphere from the one or more accessopenings.
 13. The inflation work station according to claim 12, whereinthe access opening close-out device includes: an inflatable bladderarrangeable in one of a stowed orientation and a deployed orientation,wherein, when the inflatable bladder is arranged in the deployedorientation, an outer surface of the inflatable bladder may be arrangedsubstantially adjacent one or more of a side surface of the distal endportion, a lower body surface portion of the bead seat of the wheel andan upper body surface portion of the bead of the tire.
 14. The inflationwork station according to claim 13, wherein the inflatable bladder formsa cavity that is in fluid communication with a fluid conduit extendingthrough the distal end portion by way of a fluid channel formed in thedistal end portion, wherein the fluid channel provides means forpermitting a portion of the fluid passing through the fluid conduit andtoward the cavity of the tire-wheel assembly to be diverted to thecavity of the inflatable bladder.
 15. The inflation work stationaccording to claim 13, wherein the access opening close-out deviceincludes: a substantially rigid guide flange arranged proximate theexterior surface of the inflatable bladder to provide means fordirecting the inflatable bladder (e.g., in a substantially radialdirection) toward one or more of the side surface of the distal endportion, the lower body surface portion of the bead seat of the wheeland the upper body surface portion of the bead of the tire.
 16. Theinflation work station according to claim 1, wherein the at least oneinflation probe includes: a distal end portion formed from more than onematerial including a first material and a second material, wherein thesecond material includes a hardness characteristic that is differentthan that of first material, wherein the hardness characteristic of thesecond material is less than that of the first material to provide meansfor increasing the sealability of the distal end portion when the distalend portion is located adjacent a portion of a bead seat of the wheel.17. The inflation work station according to claim 16, wherein the distalend portion includes one or more fluid outlet openings formed by anupper lip and a lower lip, wherein the second material forms at least aportion of each of the upper lip and the lower lip, wherein at least aportion of one or more of the upper lip and the lower lip are arrangedadjacent the portion of a bead seat of the wheel.
 18. A method foroperating an inflation work station for processing a tire-wheel assemblyincluding a tire mounted to a wheel, wherein the work station includes aworking device having an end effecter, wherein the end effecter includesa wheel-engaging plunger member, a retaining apparatus connected to thewheel-engaging plunger member, an inflation apparatus connected to thewheel-engaging plunger member, wherein the retaining apparatus includesat least one tire-engaging portion extending from a retaining apparatusbase member, wherein the inflation apparatus includes at least oneinflation probe extending from an inflation apparatus base membercomprising the steps of: spatially manipulating the inflation apparatusfor causing a distal end portion of the at least one inflation probe todisposed between a portion of the bead of the tire and a bead seat ofthe wheel; and supplying a fluid from the distal end portion of the atleast one inflation probe and into a cavity of the tire-wheel assemblyfor inflating the tire-wheel assembly.
 19. The method according to claim18, wherein the disposed orientation of the distal end portion betweenthe portion of the bead of the tire and the bead seat of the wheel formsone or more access openings to the cavity, wherein the one or moreaccess openings result in the cavity being non-sealably-exposed toatmosphere and further comprising the step of: at least partiallysealing the one or more access openings of the cavity for at leastpartially inhibiting the fluid supplied into the cavity from escaping tothe atmosphere from the one or more access openings by at leastpartially deploying an access opening close-out device connected to thedistal end portion.
 20. The method according to claim 18, wherein thedeploying step includes: inflating an inflatable bladder of the accessopening close-out device to be in at least a partially deployedorientation such that an outer surface of the inflatable bladder isarranged substantially adjacent one or more of a side surface of thedistal end portion, a lower body surface portion of the bead seat of thewheel and an upper body surface portion of the bead of the tire.
 21. Themethod according to claim 18, further comprising the step of: spatiallymanipulating the retaining apparatus for causing the at least onetire-engaging portion to engage a tread surface of the tire of thetire-wheel assembly.